Our team
Jane Moriarty CGLLEN Executive Officer
After moving to the Great South Coast to begin her career, Jane was excited to return to her hometown in January 2020 to take up a Youth Project Officer role with CGLLEN. After initially managing our Resilient Ararat project, Jane progressed into the Executive Officer position in 2021.
With a background in health promotion, Jane is skilled in stakeholder engagement and project management. She enjoys working closely with local schools and industry to improve training and employment opportunities for local youth.
Jane is known in the office for her creativity and developed a strong eye for design during her first-ever job at a local retail store.
Shelly Chalmers Business Manager
Shelly is our longest serving staff member, having worked at Central Grampians LLEN since March 2018. Shelly has over 10 years’ experience in the banking industry and spent six years working in local government with the economic development department.
She enjoys supporting her fellow colleagues and working across all CGLLEN’s various programs.
Shelly’s first job was working in a country hotel where she got to know her customers extremely well – she still loves a good chat!
Jessie Newton Communications Manager
Jessie joined CGLLEN in March 2019 after nine years working in local government as a media and communications officer. She also has extensive experience in print journalism and online platforms. Jessie enjoys driving CGLLEN’s marketing strategy and finding new ways to boost our organisational profile.
Her first high school job was at a sports store where enjoyed chatting to customers, young and old, about all things local sport.
Penny Walton-Bourke Youth Project Officer, L2P and MATES
Penny came onboard as a Youth Project Officer in July 2019 while she was undertaking a Diploma of Community Services. Since completing her studies, she has become the face of two of our mentor programs; the TAC L2P Program and MATES. Penny is experienced in mental health first aid and enjoys working with youth and the community she grew up in.
Given Penny’s social nature, it comes as no surprise that her first job was working in a family-owned restaurant. Over the years she formed some great relationships with the regular customers and still catches up with many of them to this day.
Nerissa Gee Partnerships & Pathways Coordinator
Nerissa joined our team in January 2021 as Partnerships and Pathways Coordinator. As part of her role, she manages the Structured Workplace Learning program, providing support to local schools, students and employers.
Nerissa has nine years of experience working in Early Years Education and Care and as a VET teacher of Certificate III in Children’s Services. She is a strong advocate for our youngest citizens and is committed to building stronger community partnerships for young people to reach their learning goals and set their career pathways.
Nerissa was 16 when she landed her first job at KFC. She loved being part of a team and says the fast-paced workplace taught her some valuable life skills!